CHRIS'Mltf 

ISACOMIN' 

&OTHERPOEM5 


CHRISMUS  IS  A-COMIN' 
AND  OTHER  POEMS 


CHRIS'MUS' 

ISACOMIN' 

&OTHERPOEMS 

BY 


'Ihcld.Mead 

&  Company 

Newiork 


Copyright,  1896,  1899, 1903,  1905,  by 
Dono,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 


CHRISMUS  IS  A-COMIN' 
AND  OTHER  POEMS 


625 


CHRISMUS    IS  A-COMIN' 


>ONES  a-gittin1  achy, 
Back  a-feelin'  col', 
H  a  n's    a-g  r  o  w  i  n* 

shaky, 

Jes'  lak  I  was  ol . 
Pros'  erpon  de  meddah 
Lookin'  mighty  white ; 
Snowdraps  lak  a  feddah 
Slippin'  down  at  night. 
Jes'  keep  t'ings  a-hummin' 
Spite  o'  fros'  an*  showahs, 
Chrismus  is  a-comin1 
An'  all  de  week  is  ouahs. 

Little  mas'  a-axin\ 
"  Who  is  Santy  Glaus?" 
Meks  it  kin'  o'  taxin' 
Not  to  brek  de  laws. 
Chillun's  pow'ful  tryin' 
To  a  pusson's  grace 
Wen  dey  go  a  pryin' 
Right  on  th'oo  you'  face 
Down  ermong  yo'  feelings  ; 
Jes'  'pears  lak  dat  you 


CHRISMUS   IS   A 


Got  to  change  you'  dealings 
So  's  to  tell  'em  true. 

An'  my  pickaninny  — 
Dreamin'  in  his  sleep  ! 
Come  hyeah,  Mammy  Jinny, 
Come  an'  tek  a  peep. 
OF  Mas'  Bob  an'  Missis 
In  de  house  up  daih 
Got  no  chile  lak  dis  is, 
D'  ain't  none  anywhaih. 
Sleep,  my  little  lammy, 
Sleep,  you  little  limb, 
He  do'  know  whut  mammy 
Done  saved  up  fu'  him. 

Dey'll  be  banjo  pickin', 
Dancin'  all  night  thoo. 
Dey'll  be  lots  o'  chicken, 
Plenty  tukky,  too. 
Drams  to  wet  yo'  whistles 
So's  to  drive  out  chills. 
Whut  I  keer  fu'  drizzles 
Fallin'  on  de  hills  ? 
Jes'  keep  t'ings  a-hummin' 
Spite  o'  col'  an'  showahs, 
Chrismus  day's  a-cormV, 
An'  all  de  week  is  ouahs. 
— 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

LULLABY 

BEDTIME'S  come  fiT  little  boys. 

Po'  little  lamb. 
Too  tiahed  out  to  make  a  noise, 

Po'  little  lamb. 
You  gwine   t'   have  to-morrer 

sho'? 

Yes,  you  tole  me  dat  befo', 
Don't  you  fool  me,  chile,  no  mo', 

Po'  little  lamb. 

You  been  bad  de  livelong  day, 

Po'  little  lamb. 
Th'owin'     stones     an'     runnin* 

'way, 

Po1  little  lamb. 
My,  but  you's  a-runnin'  wiF, 
Look  jes'   lak  some  po'  folks 

chile ; 
Mam'   gwine    whup  you  atter 

while, 
Po'  little  lamb. 

Come  hyeah  !  you  mos'  tiahed 
to  def, 

Po'  little  lamb. 
Played  yo'se'f  clean  out  o'  bref, 

Po'  little  lamb. 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

See    dem    ban's    now — sich    a 

sight  1 
Would  you  evah  b'lieve  dey's 

white  ? 

Stan'  still  twell  I  wash  'em  right, 
Po'  little  lamb. 

Jes'    cain't    hoi1    yo'    haid    up 
straight, 

Po'  little  lamb. 
Hadn't  oughter  played  so  late, 

Po'  little  lamb. 
Mammy  do'  know  whut  she'd 

do, 

Ef  de  chillun's  all  lak  you  ; 
You's  a  caution  now  fu'  true, 

Po'  little  lamb. 

Lay  yo'  haid  down  in  my  lap, 

Po'  little  lamb. 

Y'  ought  to  have  a  right  good 
slap, 

Po'  little  lamb. 

You  been  runnin'  roun'  a  heap. 
Shet  dem   eyes  an'  don't  you 

peep, 
Dah  now,  dah  now,  go  to  sleep, 

Po'  little  lamb. 


10 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

AT  CANDLE-LIGHTIN' 
TIME 

WHEN  I  come  in  fom  de  co'n- 

fiel'  aftah  wo'kin'  ha'd  all  day, 
It's  amazin'  nice  to  fin'  my  suppah 

all  erpon  de  way  ; 
An'  it's  nice  to  smell  de  coffee 

bubblin'  ovah  in  de  pot, 
An'    it's    fine  to   see   de  meat 

a-sizzlin1  teasin'-lak  an'  hot. 

But  when  suppah-time  is  ovah, 

an'  de  t'ings  is  cleahed  away  ; 
Den  de  happy  hours  dat  foller 

are  de  sweetes'  of  de  day. 
When  my  co'ncob  pipe  is  sta'ted, 

an'  de  smoke  is  drawin'  prime, 
My  ole  'ooman  says,  "  I  reckon, 

Ike,  it's  candle-lightin1  time." 

Den  de  chillun  snuggle  up  to  me, 

an'  all  commence  to  call, 
"Oh,  say,  daddy,  now  it's  time 

to  mek   de   shadders   on   de 

wall." 
So  I  puts  my  han's  togethah — 

evan  daddy  knows  de  way, — 


ii 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

n'   de  chillun   snuggle  closer 
roun1  ez  I  begin  to  say :  — 


"  Fus'  thing,  hyeah  come  Mistah 

Rabbit ;    don1   you   see   him 

wo'k  his  eahs  £ 
Huh,  uh  1  dis  mus'  be  a  donkey, 

—  look,    how    innercent    he 

'pears  1 
Dah's    de    ole  black   swan  a- 

swimmin'  —  ain't   she  got  a' 

awful  neck  ? 
Who's  dis  feller  dat's  a-comin'  ? 

Why,  dat's  ole  dog  Tray.  I 

'spec'  1 " 

Dat's  deway  I  run  on,  tryin'  fu* 

to  please  'em  all  I  can  ; 
Den  I  hollahs,  "  Now  be  keer- 

ful — dis  hyeah  las' 's  de  buga- 

man  I  " 
An'  dey  runs  an'  hides  dey  faces  ; 

dey  ain't  skeered — dey's  lettin' 

on  : 
But   de   play   ain't   raaly  ovah 

twell  da*  bugaman  is  gone. 

12 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

So  I  jes'  teks  up  my  banjo,  an* 

I  plays  a  little  chune, 
An'  you   see   dem  haids  come 

peepin'  out  to  listen  mighty 

soon. 
Den    my   wife   says,    "  Sich   a 

pappy  fu'  to  give  you  sich  a 

fright  1 
Jes'  you  go  to  baid,  an'  leave 

him :  say  yo'  prayers  an'  say 

good-night." 


THE  DESERTED  PLANTA- 
TION 

OH,  de  grubbin'-hoe's  a-rustin* 

in  de  co'nah, 
An'  de  plow's  a-tumblin'  down 

in  de  fiel', 
While  de  whippo'will's  a-wailin' 

lak  a  mou'nah 

When   his   stubbo'n   hea't  is 
tryin'  ha'd  to  yiel'. 

In  de  furrers  whah  de  co'n  was 
allus  waving 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

Now    de    weeds   is   growin' 

green  an'  rank  an1  tall ; 
An'  de  swallers  roun'  de  whole 

place  is  a-bravin' 
Lak  dey  thought  deir  folks  had 
allus  owned  it  all. 

An1  de  big  house  Stan's  all  quiet 

lak  an1  solemn, 
Not  a   blessed  soul  in  pa'lor, 

po'ch,  er  lawn  ; 
Not  a  guest,  ner  not  aca'iage 

lef  to  haul  'em 
Fu'   de  ones  dat  tu'ned  de 
latch-string  out  air  gone. 

An'  de  banjo's  voice  is  silent  in 

de  qua'ters, 
D'  ain't  a  hymn  nerco'n-song 

ringin'  in  de  air ; 
But  de  murmur  of  a  branch's 

passin'  waters 

Is  de  only  soun'  dat  breks  de 
stillness  dere. 

Whah's  de  da'kies,  dem  dat  used 
to  be  a-dancin' 

14 


CHR1SMUS    IS   A-COM1N 

EvVy  night  befo*  de  ole  cabin 

^  do'  ? 
Whah's  de  chillun,  demdatused 

to  be  a-prancin' 
Er  a-rollin'  in  de  san'  er  on  de 
flo'> 

Whah's  ole  Uncle  Mordecai  an* 

Uncle  Aaron? 
Whah's  Aunt  Doshy,Sam,an* 

Kit,  an'  all  de  res1  ? 
Whah's  ole  Tom  deda'kyfiddlah, 

how's  he  farin'  ? 
Whah's   de  gals  dat  used  to 
sing  an'  dance  de  bes'  ? 

Gone  !  not  one  o'  dem  is  lef  to 

tell  de  story ; 
Dey  have  lef  de  deah  ole  place 

to  fall  away. 
Couldn't  one  o'  dem  dat  seed 

it  in  its  glory 

Stay  to  watch  it  in  de  hour  of 
decay  ? 

Dey  have  lef  de  ole  plantation 
to  de  swallers, 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

But  it  hoi's  in  me  a  lover  till 

de  las' ; 
Fu'   I   fin'  hyeah  in  de  memory 

dat  follers 
All   dat  loved   me  an'  dat  I 

loved  in  de  pas'. 

So  I'll  stay  an'  watch  de  deah  ole 

place  an'  tend  it 
Ez  I  used  to  in  de  happy  days 

gone  by. 
Twell  de  othah  Mastah  thinks 

it's  time  to  end  it, 
An'  calls  me  to  my  qua'ters  in 
de  sky. 


A  BANJO  SONG 

OH,    dere's    lots 

trouble 
In     dis    world    to     swaller 

down ; 
An1  oF  Sorrer's  purty  lively 

In  her  way  o'  gittin'  roun\ 
Yet  dere's  times  when  I  furgit 
'em, — 

16 


CHRISMUS    IS    A-COMIN 

Aches  an'  pains  an'  troubles 

^  all,— 

An'  it's  when  I  tek  at  ebenin* 
My  ol'  banjo  f  om  de  wall. 

'Bout  de  time  dat  night  is  Tallin* 

An'  my  daily  wu'k  is  done, 
An'  above  de  shady  hilltops 

I  kin  see  de  settin'  sun ; 
When  de  quiet,  restful  shadders 

Is  beginnin'  jes'  to  fall, — 
Den  I  take  de  little  banjo 

F'om  its  place  upon  de  wall. 

Den   my  fam'ly  gadders   roun* 
me 

In  de  fadin'  o'  de  light, 
Ez  I  strike  de  strings  to  try  'em 

Ef  dey  all  is  tuned  er-right. 
An'    it    seems    we're    so    nigh 
heaben 

We  kin  hyeah  de  angels  sing 
When  de  music  o'  dat  banjo 

Sets  my  cabin  all  er-ring. 

An'  my  wife  an'  all  de  othahs, — 

Male    an'   female,    small   an* 

big,— 

17 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

Even  up  to  gray-haired  granny, 

Seem  jes'  boun'  to  do  a  jig ; 

'Twell    I    change    de   style   o' 

music, 
Change  de  movement  an'  de 

time, 

An'  de  ringin'  little  banjo 
Plays  an  ol'  hea't-feelin'  hime. 

An'   somehow    my    th'oat   gits 

choky, 

An'  a  lump  keeps  tryin'  to  rise 
Lak  it  wan'ed  to  ketch  de  water 
Dat  was  flowin'  to  my  eyes  ; 
An'  I  feel  dat  I  could  sorter 
Knock  de  socks  clean  off  o* 

sin 

Ez  I  hyeah  my  po'  oF  granny 
Wif  huh  tremblin1  voice  jine 
in. 

Den  we  all  th'ow  in  our  voices 
Fu'  to  he'p  de  chune  out  too, 

Lak  a  big  camp-meetin'  choiry 
Tryin'  to  sing  a  mou'nah  th'oo. 

An'  our  th'oahts  let  out  de  music, 
Sweet  an'   solemn,   loud  an" 
free, 

18 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

'Twell  de  raftahs  o'  my  cabin 
Echo  wif  de  melody. 

Oh,  de  music  o'  de  banjo, 

Quick  an'   deb'lish,  solemn, 

slow, 
Is  de  greates'  joy  an'  solace 

Dat  a  weary  slave  kin  know  I 
So  jes'  let  me  hyeah  it  ringin', 

Dough  de  chune  be  po'  an' 

rough, 
It's  a  pleasure ;  an'  de  pleasures 

O'  dis  life  is  few  enough. 

Now,  de  blessed  little  angels 

Up  in  heaben,  we  are  told, 
Don't  do  nothin'  all  dere  life- 
time 

'Ceptin'  play  on  ha'ps  o'  gold. 
Now  I  think  heaben  d  be  mo' 
homelike 

Ef  we'd  hyeah  some  music  fall 
F'om  a  real  ol'-fashioned  banjo, 

Like  dat  one  upon  de  wall. 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

WHEN  DECO'N  PONE'S 
HOT 

DEY  is  times  in  life  when  Nature 

Seems  to  slip  a  cog  an'  go, 
Jes'  a-rattlin1  down  creation, 

Lak  an  ocean's  overflow ; 
When     de     worl'     jes'     stahts 
a-spinnin' 

Lak  a  picaninny's  top, 
An'  yo'  cup  o'  joy  is  brimmin' 

'Twell  it  seems  about  to  slop, 
An'  you  feel  jes'  lak  a  racah, 

Dat  is  trainin'  fu1  to  trot — 
When     yo'    mammy    says    de 
blessin' 

An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

When  you  set  down  at  de  table, 

Kin'  o'  weary  lak  an'  sad, 
An'  you  'se  jes'  a  little  tiahed 

An'  purhaps  a  little  mad  ; 
How  yo'  gloom  tu'ns  into  glad- 
ness, 
How  yo'  joy  drives  out  de 

doubt 
When  de  oven  do'  is  open, 

20 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

An'   de    smell    comes   po'in' 

out ; 
Why,  de  'lectric  light  o'  Heaven 

Seems  to  settle  on  de  spot, 
When     yo'    mammy    says    de 

blessin' 
An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

When     de     cabbage     pot     is 

steamin' 

An1  de  bacon  good  an'  fat, 
When  de  chittlins  is  a-sputter'n' 
So's  to  show  you  whah  dey's 

at; 
Tek  away  yo'  sody  biscuit, 

Tek  away  yo'  cake  an'  pie, 
Fu'  de  glory  time  is  comin', 
An'    it's    'proachin'    mighty 

nigh, 

An'  you  want  to  jump  an'  hollah, 
Dough  you  know  you'd  bettah 

not, 
When    yo'     mammy     says    de 

blessin', 
An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

I  have  hyeahd  o'  lots  o'  sermons, 
21 


CHRISMUS    IS    A-COM1N 

An1    I've   hyeahd   o'    lots  o' 

prayers, 

An'  I've  listened  to  some  singin' 
Dat  has  tuck  me  up  de  stairs 
Of  de  Glory-Lan'  an'  set  me 
Jes'     below    de     Mahstah's 

th'one, 
An'  have  lef  my  hea't  a-singin' 

In  a  happy  aftah  tone  ; 
But  dem  wu'ds  so  sweetly  mur- 
mured 

Seem  to  tech  de  softes'  spot, 
When    my    mammy    says    de 

blessin', 
An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 


WHEN    MALINDY   SINGS 

G'WAY  an'  quit  dat  noise,  Miss 
Lucy  — 

Put  dat  music  book  away  ; 
What's  de  use  to  keep  on  tryin'  ? 

Ef  you  practise  twell  you're 


You  cain't  sta't  no  notes  a-flyin' 
22 


Lak  de   ones   dat  rants   and 

rings 
F'om    de    kitchen   to    de    big 

woods 
When  Malindy  sings. 

You  ain't  got  de  nachel  o'gans 
Fu'  to  make  de  soun'  come 

right, 
You     ain't    got    de    tu'ns    an' 

twistin's 

Fu'  to  make  it  sweet  an'  light. 
Tell  you  one  thing  now,  Miss 

Lucy, 

An'  I'm  tellin'  you  fu'  true, 
When  hit  comes   to  raal  right 

singin', 
Tain't  no  easy  thing  to  do. 

Easy  'nough  fu'  folks  to  hollah, 

Lookin'  at  de  lines  an'  dots, 

When  dey  ain't  no  one  kin  sence 

it, 
An'  de   chune   comes  in,  in 

spots ; 

But  fu'  real  melojous  music, 
Dat  jes'  strikes  yo'  hea't  and 
clings, 

23 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 

Jes'  you  stan'  an'  listen  wif  me 
When  Malindy  sings. 

Ain't   you  nevah   hyeahd    Ma- 
lindy ? 

Blessed  soul,  tek  up  de  cross  I 
Look    hyeah,  ain't   you  jokin', 

honey  ? 
Well,  you  don't  know  whut 

you  los'. 
Y'    ought    to    hyeah    dat    gal 

a-wa'blin', 
Robins,   la'ks,   an1    all    dem 

things, 
Heish  dey  moufs  an'  hides  dey 

faces 
When  Malindy  sings. 


Fiddlin'  man  jes'  stop  his  fid- 

dlin', 

Lay  his  fiddle  on  de  she'f ; 
Mockin'-bird  quit  tryin'  to  whis- 
tle, 
'Cause  he  jes'  so  shamed  his* 

se'f. 
Folks  a-playin'  on  de  banjo 

24 


CHR1SMUS    IS    A-COMIN 

Draps    dey    fingahs    on    de 

strings  — 
Bless  yo'  soul — fu'gits  to  move 

'em, 
When  Malindy  signs. 

She  jes'  spreads  huh  mouf  and 

hollahs, 
"  Come  to  Jesus,"  twell  you 

hyeah 
Sinnahs'    tremblin'    steps    and 

voices, 

Timid-lak  a-drawin'  neah ; 
Den   she   tu'ns  to    "  Rock   of 

Ages," 

Simply  to  de  cross  she  clings, 
An'  you  fin'  yo'  teahs  a-drap- 

pin' 
When  Malindy  sings. 

Who  dat  says  dat  humble  praises 
Wif  de  Master  nevah  counts  ? 

Heish   yo'  mouf,   I    hyeah  dat 

music, 
Ez  hit  rises  up  an'  mounts  — 

Floatin'  by  de  hills  an'  valleys, 
Way  above  dis  buryin'  sod, 

25 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

Ez  hit  makes  its  way  in  glory 
To  de  very  gates  of  God  1 

Oh,  hit's  sweetah  dan  de  music 

Of  an  edicated  band  ; 
An'  hit's  dearah  dan  de  battle's 

Song  o'  triumph  in  de  Ian'. 
It  seems  holier  dan  evenin' 

When  de  solemn  chu'ch  bell 

rings, 
Ez  I  sit  an'  ca'mly  listen 

While  Malindy  sings. 

Towsah,  stop  dat  ba'kin',  hyeah 

me  I 
Mandy,  mek  dat  chile  keep 

still ; 
Don't  you    hyeah    de    echoes 

callin' 

F'om  de  valley  to  de  hill  ? 
Let  me  listen,  I  can  hyeah  it, 
Th'oo   de   bresh    of    angel's 

wings, 
Sof  an*  sweet,  *'  Swing  Low, 

Sweet  Chariot," 
Ez  Malindy  sings. 


26 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 


SONG  OF  SUMMER 

Dis  is  gospel  weathah  sho' — 

Hills  is  sawt  o'  hazy. 
Meddahs  level  ez  a  flo' 

Callin'  to  de  lazy. 
Sky  all  white  wif  streaks  o'  blue, 

Sunshine  softly  gleamin', 
D 'ain't  no  wuk  hit's  right  to  do, 

Nothin'  's  right  but  dreamin'. 

Dreamin'  by  de  rivah  side 

Wif  de  watahs  glist'nin', 
Feelin'  good  an'  satisfied 

Ez  you  lay  a-listrnin' 
To  the  little  nakid  boys 

Splashin'  in  de  watah, 
Hollerin'  fu'  to  spress  deir  joys 

Jes1  lak  youngsters  ought  to. 

Squir'l  a-tippin1  on  his  toes, 
So's  to  hide  an'  view  you  ; 

Whole  flocks   o'   camp-meetin* 

crows 
Shoutin'  hallelujah. 

Peckahwood  erpon  de  tree 
Tappin'  lak  a  hammah  ; 

27 


CHRISMUS    IS    A-COMIN 

Jaybird  chattin'  wif  a  bee. 
Tryin'  to  teach  him  grammah. 

Breeze  is  blowin'  wif  perfume 

Jes'  enough  to  tease  you  ; 
Hollyhocks  is  all  in  bloom, 

Smellin'  fu'  to  please  you. 
Go  'way,  folks,  an1  let  me  'lone, 

Times  is  gettin'  dearah  — 
Summah's  settin'  on  de  th'one, 

An'  I'm  a-layin'  neah  huhJ 


LI'L'  GAL 

OH,  de  weathah  it  is  balmy  an' 

de  breeze  is  sighin  low. 

LiT  gal, 
An'  de  mockin'  bird  is  sinpfm1 

in  de  locus'  by  de  do\ 

LiT  gal ; 
Dere's  a  hummin  an'  a  bummin' 

in  de   Ian'  fom  eas'  to 

wes', 
I's  a-sighin'  fu'  you,  honey,  an' 

I  nevah  know  no  res'. 

28 


CHRISMUS    IS    A-COMIN 

Fu'  dey's  lots  o'  trouble  brewin' 
an1  a-stewirf  in  my  breas', 
LIT  gal. 


Whut's     de     mattah    wid    de 
weathah,  whut's  de  mat- 
tah wid  de  breeze, 
LiT  gal  ? 

Whut's  de  mattah  wid  de  locus* 
dat's  a-singin'  in  de  trees, 
LiT  gal  ? 

Wy  dey  knows  dey  ladies  love 
'em,  an'  dey  knows  dey 
love  'em  true, 

An'  dey  love  'em  back,  I  reckon, 
des'  lak  I's  a-lovin'  you  ; 

Dat's  de  reason  dey's  a-weavin' 
an'  a-sighin',  thoo  an' 
thoo, 

LiT  gal. 


Don't  you  let  no  da'ky  fool  you 
'cause  de  clo'es  he  waihs 
is  fine, 

LIT  gal. 

29 


CHRISMUS    IS    A-COMIN 

Dey's  a  hones1  hea't  a-beatirT 

unnerneaf    dese   rags   o' 

mine, 

LiT  gal. 
Cose  dey  am'  no  use  in  mockin' 

whut  de  birds  an1  weathah 

do, 
But   I's  so'y  I  cain't  'spress  it 

w'en    I    knows    I   loves 

you  true, 
Dat's  de  reason  I's  a-sighin'  an* 

a-singin'  now  fu'  you, 
LiT  gal. 


FISHING 

WEN  I  git  up  in  de  mo'nin'  an* 

de    clouds     is    big    an' 

black, 
Dey's  a  kin'  o'  wa'nin'  shivah 

goes  a-scootin'  down  my 

back  ; 
Den  I  says  to  my  ol'  ooman  ez 

I  watches  down  de  lane, 
"  Don't    you    so't    o'   reckon, 

Lizy,   dat   we   gwine  to 

have  some  rain  ? " 

3° 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

"  Go  on,  man,"    my  Lizy   an- 

swah,   "you   cain't   fool 

me,  not  a  bit, 
I  don't  see  no  rain  a-comin',  ef 

you's  wishin'  fu'  it,  quit  ; 
Case   de  mo'  you  t'ink  erbout 

it,  an'  de   mo'  you  pray 

an'  wish, 
W'y  de  rain  stay  'way  de  longah, 

spechul  ef  you  wants  to 

fish." 


But  I  see  huh  pat  de  skillet,  an* 
I  see  huh  cas'  huh  eye 

Wid  a  kin'  o'  anxious  motion 
to'ds  de  da'kness  in  de 
sky; 

An*  I  knows  whut  she's 
a-t'inkin',  dough  she 
tries  so  ha'd  to  hide. 

She's  a-sayin',  "Wouldn't  cat- 
fish now  tas'e  monst'ous 
bully,  fried  ? " 

Den  de  clouds  git  black  an* 
blackah,  an'  de  thundah 
'mence  to  roll, 


31 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

An'  de  rain,  it  'mence  a-fallin'. 
Oh,  I's  happy,  bless  my 
soul ! 

Ez  I  look  at  dat  ol'  skillet,  an'  I 
'magine  I  kin  see 

Jes'  a  slew  o'  new-ketched  cat- 
fish sizzlin'  daih  fu'  huh 
an'  me. 

'Tain't  no  use  to  go  a-ploughin', 
fu'  de  groun'll  be  too  wet, 

So  I  puts  out  fu'  de  big  house 
at  a  moughty  pace,  you 
bet, 

An'  ol'  mastah  say,  "Well, 
Lishy,  ef  you  t'ink  hit's 
gwine  to  rain, 

Go  on  fishin',  hit's  de  weathah, 
an'  I  'low  we  cain't  com- 
plain." 

Talk   erbout  a  dahky  walkin* 

wid   his    haid   up   in  de 

aih! 
Have  to  feel  mine  evah  minute 

to  be  sho'  I  got  it  daih ; 
En'  de  win'  is  cuttin'  capahs  an' 

a-lashin'  thoo  de  trees, 

32 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 

But  de  rain  keeps  on  a-singin' 
blessed  songs,  lak  "  Tek 
yo'  ease." 


Wid  my  pole  erpon  my  shouldah 

an'  my  wo'm  can  in  my 

ban', 
I  kin  feel  de  fish  a-waitin'  w'en 

I  strikes  de  rivah's  san'  ; 
Nevah  min'  you  ho'ny  scoun'- 

els,  needn'  swim  erroun' 

an'  grin, 
I'll  be  grinnin'  in  a  minute  w'en 

I  'mence  to  haul  you  in. 


W'en  de  fish  begin  to  nibble, 

an'    de    co'k    begin    to 

jump, 
I's  erfeahed  dat  dey'll  quit  bitin', 

case  dey  hyeah  my  hea't 

go  "  thump," 
'Twell   de  co'k  go  way  down 

undah,  an'  I  raise  a  awful 

shout, 
Ez  a  big  ol'  yallah  belly  comes 

a  gallivantin'  out. 

33 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 

Needn't  wriggle,  Mistah  Cat- 
fish, case  I  got  you  jes' 
de  same, 

You  been  eatin',  I'll  be  eatin', 
an'  we  needah  ain't  to 
blame. 

But  you  needn't  feel  so  lone- 
some fu'  I's  th'owin'  out 
to  see 

Ef  dey  ain't  some  of  yo'  com- 
rades fu'  to  keep  you 
company. 

Spo't,    dis     fishin'  I     now    you 

talkin',  w'y  dey  ain't  no 

kin'  to  beat ; 
I  don'  keer  ef  I  is  soakin',  laigs, 

an'   back,   an'   naik,   an' 

feet, 
It's  de  spo't   I's  lookin'  aftah. 

Hit's  de  pleasure  an'  de 

fun, 
Dough     I     knows    dat    Lizy's 

waitin'    wid     de    skillet 

w'en  I's  done. 


34 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

TWO  LITTLE  BOOTS 

Two  little  boots  all  rough  an* 

wo', 

Two  little  boots ! 
Laws,    I've   kissed    'em    times 

befo', 

Dese  little  boots  ! 
Seems  de  toes  a-peepin'  thoo 
Dis      hyeah     hole     an'    savin' 

"  Boo  !  " 

Evah  time  dey  looks  at  you  — 
Dese  little  boots. 

Membah  de  time  he  put  'em  on, 

Dese  little  boots  ; 
Riz  an'  called  fu'  'em  by  dawn, 

Dese  little  boots ; 
Den   he   tromped   de    livelong 

day, 

Laffin'  in  his  happy  way, 
Evaht'ing  he  had  to  say, 

"My  little  boots  I" 

Kickin'  de  san1  de  whole  day 

long, 
Dem  little  boots  ; 

35 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

Good    de    cobblah    made    'em 

strong. 

Dem  little  boots  I 
Rocks  was  fiT  dat  baby's  use, 
Ton  had  to  stan1  abuse 
Wen    you   tu'ned   dese  cham- 

peens  loose, 
Dese  little  boots  ! 

Ust  to  make  de  ol'  cat  cry, 

Dese  little  boots ; 
Den  you  walked  it  mighty  high, 

Proud  little  boots  1 
Ahms  akimbo,  stan'in'  wide, 
Eyesa-sayin'  "•  Dis  is  pride  1  " 
Den  de  manny-baby  stride  I 

You  little  boots. 

Somehow,  you  don't  seem   so 

gay« 

Po'  little  boots, 
Sence  yo'  ownah  went  erway, 

Po'  little  boots  1 
Yo'  bright  tops  don't  look  so 

red, 

Dese  brass  tips  is  dull  an'  dead  ; 
"  Goo'-bye,"  whut  de  baby  said ; 

Deah  little  boots  I 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

Ain't  you  kin'  o'  sad  yo'se'f, 

You  little  boots  ? 
Dis  is  all  his  manny's  lef , 

Two  little  boots. 
Sence  huh  baby  gone  an'  died, 
Heav'n  itse'f  hit  seem  to  hide 
Des  a  little  bit  inside 

Two  little  boots. 


DAT  OL'  MARE  O'  MINE 

Want  to  trade  me,  do  you,  mis- 

tah  ?     Oh,  well,  now,   I 

reckon  not, 
W'y,  you  couldn't  buy  my  Sukey 

fu'  a  thousan'  on  de  spot. 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine  ? 
Yes,    huh    coat    ah    long    an* 

shaggy,  an'  she  ain't  no 

shakes  to  see ; 
Dat's  a  ring-bone,  yes,  you  right, 

suh,  an'  she  got  a  on'ry 

knee, 

37 


CHRISMUS    IS    A-COMIN 

But  dey  ain't  no  use  in  talkin', 

shede  only  boss  fu'  me, 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 


Co'se,  I  knows  dat  Suke's  con- 

tra'y,    an'    she   moughty 

ap'  to  vex ; 
But  you  got  to  mek  erlowance 

fu'  de  nature  of  huh  sex  ; 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 
Ef  you  pull  her  on  de  lef  han' ; 

she  plum  'termined  to  go 

right, 
A   cannon  couldn't  ske-er  huh, 

but  she   boun'  to  tek  a 

fright 
At  a  piece  o'  common  paper,  or 

anyt'ing  whut's  white, 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 


Wen  my  eyes  commence  to 
fail  me,  dough,  I  trus'es 
to  huh  sight, 

An'  she'll  tote  me  safe  an'  hones' 
on  de  ve'y  da'kes'  night, 
Dat  oF  mare  o'  mine. 

38 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 

Ef  I  whup  huh,  she  jes'  switch 

huh   tail,  an'  settle  to  a 

walk, 
Ef  I   whup  huh  mo',  she  shek 

huh  haid,  an'  lak  ez  not, 

she  balk. 
But  huh  sense  ain't   no   ways 

lackin',  she  do  evah  t'ing 

but  talk, 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 


But  she  gentle  ez  a  lady  w'en 

she  know  huh  beau  kin 

see, 
An'  she  sholy  got  mo'  gumption 

any  day  den  you  or  me, 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 
She's  a  leetle  slow  a-goin',  an* 

she     moughty     ha'd     to 

sta't, 
But  we's   gittin'   ol'   togathah, 

an'   she's   closah   to   my 

hea't, 
An'   I    doesn't  reckon,  mistah, 

dat    she'd    sca'cely  keer 

to  pa't ; 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 

39 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

W'y  I  knows  de  time  dat  cidah's 

kin'   o'  muddled  up  my 

haid, 
Ef  it   hadn't    been    fu'    Sukey 

hyeah,  I  reckon  I'd  been 

daid  ; 

Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 
But  she  got  me  in  de  middle  o' 

de  road  an'  tuk  me  home, 
An'  she  wouldn't  let  me  wan- 

dah,  ner  she  wouldn't  let 

me  roam, 
Dat's  de  kin'  o?  hoss  to  tie  to 

w'en  you's  seed  de  cidah's 

foam, 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 


You  kin  talk  erbout  yo'  heaven, 

you  kin  talk  erbout  yo' 

hell, 
Dey  is  people,  dey  is  hosses,  den 

dey's  cattle,  den  dey's — 

well 

Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine  ; 
She  de  beatenes'  t'ing  dat  evah 

struck  de  medders  o'  de 

town, 

40 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

An'  aldough  huh  haid  ain't  fittin' 

fu'    to   waih    no    golden 

crown, 
D'  ain't  a  blessed  wayfu'  Petah 

fu'   to    tu'n    my    Sukey 

down, 
Dat  ol'  mare  o'  mine. 


WHEN     DEY     'LISTED 
COLORED  SOLDIERS 

DEY  was   talkin'  in   de   cabin, 

dey   was   talkin'    in    de 

hall; 
But  I  listened  kin'  o'  keerless, 

not  a-t'inkin'  'bout  it  all ; 
An'  on  Sunday,  too,  I  noticed, 

dey     was      whisp'rin' 

mighty  much, 
Stan'in'  all  erroun'  de  roadside 

w'en  dey  let  us  out  o' 

chu'ch. 
But  I  didn't  t'ink  erbout  it  twell 

de  middle  of  de  week, 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

An'  my  'Lias  come  to  see  me, 

an'  somehow  he  couldn't 

speak. 
Den  I  seed  all  in  a  minute  whut 

he'd    come    to   see    me 

for  ;— 
Dey  had  'listed  colo'ed  sojers, 

an'    my   'Lias   gwine  to 

wah. 


Oh,  I  hugged  him,  an'  I  kissed 
him,  an'  I  baiged  him  not 
to  go  ; 

But  he  tol'  me  dat  his  con- 
science, hit  was  callin' 
to  him  so, 

An'  he  couldn't  baih  to  lingah 
w'en  he  had  a  chanst  to 
fight 

For  de  freedom  dey  had  gin  him 
an'  de  glory  of  de  right. 

So  he  kissed  me,  an'  he^lef 
me,  w'en  I'd  p'omised 
to  be  true  ; 

An'  dey  put  a  knapsack  on  him, 
an'  a  coat  all  colo'ed 
blue. _ 

42 


CHRISMUS   IS   A-COMIN 

So  I  gin  him  pap's  ol'  Bible 
fom  de  bottom  of  de 
draw',  — 

Wen  dey  'listed  colo'ed  sojers 
an'  my '  Lias  went  to  wah. 

But   I   t'ought  of  all  de  weary 

miles  dat  he  would  have 

to  tramp, 
An'    I    couldn't    be    contented 

w'en  dey  tuk  him  to  de 

camp. 
W'y  my  hea't  nigh  broke  wid 

grievin'  'twell  I  seed  him 

on  de  street ; 
Den   I  felt  lak  I   could  go  an' 

th'ow    my  body  at    his 

feet. 
For  his  buttons  was  a-shinin', 

an'  his  face  was  shinin', 

too, 
An'   he   looked    so   strong  an' 

mighty  in  his  coat  o'  sojer 

blue, 
Dat     I    hollahed.    ''Step    up, 

manny,"  dough  my  th'oat 

was  so'  an'  raw — 


43 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COMIN 

Wen  dey  'listed  colo'ed  sojers 
an'  my  'Lias  went  to  wah. 

Ol'  Mis'  cried  w'en  mastah  lef 
h  uh,  young  Miss 
mou'ned  huh  brothah 
Ned, 

An'  I  didn't  know  dey  feelin's 
is  de  ve'y  wo'ds  dey 
said 

W'en  I  tol'  'em  I  was  so'y. 
Dey  had  done  gin  up 
dey  all  ; 

But  dey  only  seemed  mo' 
proudah  dat  dey  men  had 
hyeahd  de  call. 

Bofe  my  mastahs  went  in  gray 
suits,  an'  I  loved  de  Yan- 
kee blue, 

But  I  t'ought  dat  I  could  sor- 
rer  for  de  losin'  of  'em 
too ; 

But  I  couldn't,  for  I  didn't  know 
de  haT  o'  whut  I  saw, 

Twell  dey  'listed  colo'ed  so- 
jers an'  my  'Lias  went 
to  wah. 

44 


CHRISMUS    IS   A-COM1N 

Mastah   Jack    come    home   all 

sickly  ;  he  was  broke  for 

life,  dey  said  ; 
An'  dey  lef  my  po'  young  mas- 

tah  some'r's  on  de  road- 
side,— dead. 
Wen     de     women    cried     an' 

mou'ned    'em,     I    could 

feel  it  thoo  an'  thoo, 
For  I  had  a  loved  un  fightin'  in 

de  way  o'  dangah,  too. 
Den  dey  tol'  me  dey  had  laid 

him  some'r's  way  down 

souf  to  res', 
Wid  de  flag  dat  he  had  fit  for 

shinin'   daih    acrost    his 

breas'. 
Well,  I  cried,  but  den  I  reckon 

dat's   whut    Gawd    had 

called  him  for. 
Wen  dey  'listed  colo'ed  sojers 

an'  my  'Lias  went  to  wah. 


45 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 

DE    WAY   TINGS    COME 

DB  way  t'ings  come,  hit  seems 

to  me, 

Is  des'  one  monst'ous  mystery  ; 
De  way  hit  seem   to  strike  a 

man, 
Dey  ain't  no  sense,  dey  ain't  no 

plan; 

Ef  trouble  sta'ts  a-pilin'  down, 
It  ain't  no  use  to  rage  er  frown, 
It  ain't  no  use  to  strive  er  pray, 
Hit's  mortal  boun'  to  come  dat 

way. 


Now,  ef  you's  hongry,  an'  yo' 

plate 
Des'   keep   on   sayin'   to  you, 

"  Wait," 
Don't  mek  no  diffunce  how  you 

feel, 
'Twon't  do  no  good  to  hunt  a 

meal, 
Fu*  dat  ah  meal  des'  boun'  to 

hide 
Ontwell  de  devil's  satisfied, 

46 


CHRISMUS  is  A-CQMIN' 

An'  'twell  dey's  some'p'n  by  to 

cyave 
You's   got   to   ease  yo'se'f  an' 

sta've. 

But  ef  dey's  co'n  meal  on  de 
she'f 

You  needn't  bothah  Voun'  yo'- 
se'f, 

Somebody's  boun'  to  amble  in 

An'  Vite  you  to  dey  co'n  meal 
bin  ; 

An'  ef  you's  stuffed  up  to  de 
froat 

Wid  co'n  er  middlin',  fowl  er 
shoat, 

Des'  look  out  an'  you'll  see  fu' 
sho 

A  'possum  faint  befo'  yo'  do*. 

De  way  t'ings  happen,  huhuh, 

chile, 
Dis  worl'   's  done  puzzled  me 

one  w'ile ; 
I's  mighty  skeered    I'll   fall  in 

doubt, 
I  des'  won't  try  to  reason  out 

47 


CHRISMUS  is  A-COMIN' 

De  reason  why  folks  strive  an' 

plan 

A  dinnah  fu'  a  full-fed  man, 
An'   shet   de    do'  an'  cross  de 

street 
F'om  one  dat  raaly  needs  to  eat 


